'SNO FOOLING! Forecasts now call for 2 feet or more

DOVER — A blizzard watch has been issued for what meteorologists say could be the biggest snowstorm to hit New England in many, many years — possibly since the Blizzard of 1978.

Up to two feet of snow now is expected to fall, beginning lightly Friday morning and continuing into Saturday morning, though storm conditions will linger as the system winds down.

Numerous power outages are expected as a result of the heavy snow and strong winds, and residents throughout New England are being urged to take precautions before this blockbuster strikes.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Hawley said the heaviest snow will fall in Strafford and Rockingham counties in the Granite State and in Southern Maine. While the northernmost parts of Maine and New Hampshire could see far less snow, no area will go untouched.

Hawley said there will be no mix of sleet or rain, so even the coastal area is expected to get the up to two feet of snow.

“There will just be snow everywhere,” he said.

Some weather organizations are even reporting that 30 inches is possible for areas in southern New Hampshire and Maine, though those reports could not be confirmed.

Northern parts of the two states, however, will likely see 6 inches of snow or less.

“If this actually pans out it will be one of the biggest storms we've had in a while,” he said.

When asked if there's any chance the storm could pass New England by and instead head out to sea as at least one recent predicted storm had done, Hawley said he doesn't believe that's even remotely likely.

He said the chances of that actually happening are less than 20 percent.

And though the snow will begin to fall very lightly Friday morning, by afternoon things will be much more intense, he said.

“That will be a very, very difficult drive home from work,” Hawley said.

Accuweather.com reports this storm is the result of two smaller storms that will collide and combine merging “quickly enough to bring colder air, heavy snow and increasing wind.”

“Some areas will be hit with an all-out blizzard and a couple of feet of snow,” the report reads.

Snow is predicted to fall at a rate of two to four inches per hour at the height of the storm and may also be accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Areas including Concord, Portsmouth and Portland are predicted by AccuWeather to be some of the hardest hit areas.

Gale force and possibly hurricane force winds are also expected to complicate matters.

Hawley said those strong winds will be an issue for motorists and visibility will be low with drifting and blowing snow creating white-out conditions, even as things wind down on Saturday.